I just signed up for Premier and when I checked their job board, the first three pages were a listing of every city within a 50 mile radius of my house with the job being "online shopping" with mysteryshopsite.com

What are these? Anyone done them? Are they just spam?

Please give all sordid details. Thanks.

I don't know exactly what you are seeing but what I have seen as 'online shops' provided by MSPs have mostly been P&Rs where you buy an item for $100 or more and return it. I was amused that one I got an email on the other day wanted me to be able to print the return label to slap on the package. This is not my cup of tea because in real life I have had enough battles with companies that did not deliver in a timely fashion or who failed to credit back a return to my credit card for weeks after the carrier shows the item as having been signed for by their folks that the $16 or so fee does not start to be worthwhile for the potential hazard and potential time involved with the shop. Just my opinion YMMV.

I don't think that is what she is seeing, Flash. Gloria, there has been some discussion of the company here and at MS Freedom. It is a few months old, but nothing has changed. A who is will give you no more info today than their website does about who is behind the company. I think they are not a true MSC, but rather a company that pays people to sign up for online offers.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Thanks Dee and Flash

I think I'll steer clear of this particular company.

I came across the same listings and thought it was not legit as well.

Hi Gloria, I know exactly what you are talking about! Premier shopping my foot. 95% of the shops offered are online and they are through a site called mystery shop site. Now i will say this, I signed up for Mystery shop Site and in one week i received two sets of assignments that I completed at home within two hours and fifteen minutes. This company pays out $15.00 per assignment and if completed by Thursday you are paid on Friday. Much to my surprise I was paid my $30.00. That was great! The only problem I have is that was it. There are no other assignments for me to complete as of right now. I do not understand why Premier Shopping is dealing with this company and the supposed shops are in our radius. I do know that if you do the required assignments with Mysteryshopsite.com that Premier works with they do pay. It is very easy money and you do not waste time and gas. The draw back I would say is the phone calls you will receive as you sign up for the free trials or quotes. If that is no problem for you then go for it! miriamhigg

But the sign ups involve cancellations and giving CC numbers, correct?

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

I signed up with Mysteryshopsite yesterday after receiving a notification email from Premier, who to this point have been useless. MSS does mention being aware of cancellation dates and the possibility of having to use a credit card. I have one specifically for online purchases. I plan to do my first assignment of 8 online vists after lunch. WBITouch.....

they are one of the ones that i have found that really require a ton of paper work... it just didnt seem to be worth it for me... and right now my cc is overdrawn so forget about it...

I'll fess up, I signed up, attempted my first shop (which, by the way, I received a berating email within 24 hrs saying "if you arent serious about this opportunity opt out now, otherwise your shop is waiting and is time sensitive...)
Its really no different than getting led down the rabbit hole for a $100 gift card blah blah blah....they want you to fill out and apply to the 5 companies thay have listed. Supposedly their system knows when theyve been completed. I did 3 of them and gave up...I dont need life insurance or another online school or herbs via mail....

They want you to use your real contact info....I am still getting phone calls 2 weeks later from a stay-at-home insurance salesman AND a daily call from an online college!!!
NEED I SAY MORE?

Thanks a lot Premier..

Stay away. it is not worth the hassle of the aftermath.

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

I agree with Dee. One shop called me at least 15 times and a man actually knocked on my door! My husband threatened to leave me if this didn't stop. I only recieved two jobs and haven't heard from them since.

Update-I sucessfully completed my first shop. One person called me at work and I chatted him up a bit, but I'm through with that nonsense. Caller ID is taking care of the calls at home. I do get the feeling my info has been sold. I've gotten one telemarketer and some stranger than usual email. Other than that, so far so good. I got paid promptly, but have received no further offers.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2009 09:34AM by Chelsie.

Most online shops that do not involve a telephone call beforehand or a purchase/return would be classified as "deceptive."

My other side business has me giving money to people if they click links and sign up for stuff. Each time someone signs up for a blockbuster trial or netflix, etc. I get paid about $20. I give the person who signed up a few bucks for making me money and for their trouble. Mysteryshopsite is one that comes to mind that does this. You are not "mystery shopping" -- you are making them money disguised as mystery shopping. I saw some surveys with questions like "how easy is it to navigate the site?" and "did the website have any errors that you encountered?"

THEY DO NOT CARE.

(Oh yeah, by the way, I so went against their "terms" for mentioning that, but they "deserve" it for not being upfront with you, the "shopper.")

Thanks for letting us know that, Amanda. Good info.

My wife and I probably use MS a bit differently than most. Our main objective is to have a nice meal within 20 MILE RADIUS OF HOME, to cover our gas and any tip or delivery charge. This could be fast food or casual dining and a good rule of thumb is a range of $25-$35. And these are not hard to find. It could also be fine dining and if so would be in the range of $55 to $100. The $100 ones are rarer or it may be that we just have not looked hard enough. Our goal is to do this 5-6 times per month and generally that is not a problem. Thus , we probably average $300-400/ month in payments for eating out which does help on expenses. The ones that really are not worth the bother are the ones where you have to go someplace and spend $5-$8 and then wait 90 days to get reimbursed for it. We do not do those.

You do however, have to make it worth while for the client. and you must realize that the reason that they are willing to do this IS ONLY ONE...TO INCREASE
THEIR BUSINESS. If your visit and report does not assist them in that objective then they will not want to use you. That simple. The reports have to be very objective and detailed but not flowerly. They just want the facts.

Regards.......jonmac

I would not do these kind of shops. You have to give out a credit card and sometimes the free trials are hard to cancel. You wind up with spam in your email.